TREATMENT ISSUES FOR SURVIVORS OF PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE

Many clients who participate in family therapy have experienced trauma such as physical and sexual abuse in their families of origin. Extens ive literature suggests that abusive experiences can result in post-tr aumatic stress disorders, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and other long-term effects. Without recognition of the effects that a buse can have on individuals, it is possible to misdiagnose clients or fail to provide them with adequate assistance. This study is an attem pt to compare the symptomology of nonabused clients with physically an d sexually abused clients using an empirically sound measure. The resu lts demonstrate that the majority of clients who experienced physical and/or sexual abuse in their backgrounds scored in the clinical range on scales from the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Instrument (MCMI) (Millo n, 1984). In contrast, clients who did not report abuse had significan tly lower scores than the abused clients, and the majority of the nona bused clients scored in the nonclinical range on the scales of the MCM I. Treatment and theoretical implications surrounding the issues of ab use are discussed, and recommendations for marriage and family therapi sts are provided.